LIV Golf

[Lord Tyrion]

Wasn’t the event at Centurion called LIV London ?

Not sure how many cities have courses that host tour events

They might not now but I'm sure a few could. You don't have to be in a city, just close enough for the links. They could easily use Close House up here and class it as Newcastle for example.They could have buses looping in and out of the centre, train station or main bus station. Not hard to set up.

I'm sure you could do the same at other courses around the country. Plenty of good courses that don't get tournaments, plenty of regions that would welcome it with open arms.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

They might not now but I'm sure a few could. You don't have to be in a city, just close enough for the links. They could easily use Close House up here and class it as Newcastle for example.They could have buses looping in and out of the centre, train station or main bus station. Not hard to set up.

I'm sure you could do the same at other courses around the country. Plenty of good courses that don't get tournaments, plenty of regions that would welcome it with open arms.

That was my point in regards Centurion - they called it LIV London despite actually not being in London

There aren’t many courses within the actual city that can host tour events

Places like JCB and Centurion are the sort of clubs that have no issues with tour events

 

[Lord Tyrion]

That was my point in regards Centurion - they called it LIV London despite actually not being in London

There aren’t many courses within the actual city that can host tour events

Places like JCB and Centurion are the sort of clubs that have no issues with tour events

As I say though, the club doesn't need to be in the city though, just in the vicinity. It's a marketing tool, not a literal thing

 

[Arthur Wedge]

As I say though, the club doesn't need to be in the city though, just in the vicinity. It's a marketing tool, not a literal thing

I know - but I think Mel was talking about what Adelaide are doing which is having it hosted in a city and the city using the event

 

[Mel Smooth]

Guess we can keep the LIV news that isn't about the actual golf on this thread, and I'll update the fantasy league on here as well.

Didn't watch a shot overnight from Adelaide but we're heading to the French Alps today so I'll be watching on catch up - but it looks like Adelaide have signed up to a long term deal for hosting the LIV event - great to see as it's the standout event on the calendar at the moment, and a 6 year commitment just means it can get bigger and better.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1890927899324100622

 

[The Squirrel]

From The Times yesterday. As ever with this sort of thing (relying on a single benefactor to maintain an unsustainable model) the main danger is that the backer’s interest and attention simply wanders elsewhere once the new toy has plateaued and is no longer quite so shiny and exciting, always with catastrophic consequences to the event or team being supported. Countless examples in other sports.

Not sticking the boot in. I’m far from a lover of LiV as a competition or its backers, but do think it’s highlighting how the world game does need to do better getting the top players to receptive markets, like Australia, and doing that better than more established tours. If I lived in Adelaide I’d probably attend the event.

“The Saudi Public Investment Fund is expected to have ploughed $5billion (about £4billion) into LIV Golf by the end of the year.
That is the analysis in the Money in Sport newsletter. It states that operating losses are “piling up at a staggering rate” and spiralled to $394million (£312million) in 2023. Revenues did increase as LIV expanded to reach $37.1million from $4.9million the previous year.
The analysis states that statutory reporting by the Jersey holding companies shows that PIF has so far approved $3.9billion (£3.1billion). The numbers make for bleak reading for the tour's bosses, despite the huge crowds and success of the LIV Adelaide event taking place this week.
LIV's long-term existence still rests in the hands of Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the governor of PIF, which is nearing a $1.5billion (£1.2billion) investment into PGA Tour Enterprises. When LIV Golf launched in 2022, its former chief executive Greg Norman said he had approval to launch the schedule up to 2025 with a $2billion (£1.6billion) commitment from PIF.”

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Guess we can keep the LIV news that isn't about the actual golf on this thread, and I'll update the fantasy league on here as well.

Didn't watch a shot overnight from Adelaide but we're heading to the French Alps today so I'll be watching on catch up - but it looks like Adelaide have signed up to a long term deal for hosting the LIV event - great to see as it's the standout event on the calendar at the moment, and a 6 year commitment just means it can get bigger and better.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1890927899324100622

I think this makes sense. Active tournament play on the Pro golf thread, behind the scenes chat on here. It's not a rigid split but there is logic in this.

 

[Fore Right]

Guess we can keep the LIV news that isn't about the actual golf on this thread, and I'll update the fantasy league on here as well.

Didn't watch a shot overnight from Adelaide but we're heading to the French Alps today so I'll be watching on catch up - but it looks like Adelaide have signed up to a long term deal for hosting the LIV event - great to see as it's the standout event on the calendar at the moment, and a 6 year commitment just means it can get bigger and better.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1890927899324100622

Biggest no brainer ever.

In fact they should have 2 events in Australia.

 

[Fore Right]

From The Times yesterday. As ever with this sort of thing (relying on a single benefactor to maintain an unsustainable model) the main danger is that the backer’s interest and attention simply wanders elsewhere once the new toy has plateaued and is no longer quite so shiny and exciting, always with catastrophic consequences to the event or team being supported. Countless examples in other sports.

Not sticking the boot in. I’m far from a lover of LiV as a competition or its backers, but do think it’s highlighting how the world game does need to do better getting the top players to receptive markets, like Australia, and doing that better than more established tours. If I lived in Adelaide I’d probably attend the event.

“The Saudi Public Investment Fund is expected to have ploughed $5billion (about £4billion) into LIV Golf by the end of the year.
That is the analysis in the Money in Sport newsletter. It states that operating losses are “piling up at a staggering rate” and spiralled to $394million (£312million) in 2023. Revenues did increase as LIV expanded to reach $37.1million from $4.9million the previous year.
The analysis states that statutory reporting by the Jersey holding companies shows that PIF has so far approved $3.9billion (£3.1billion). The numbers make for bleak reading for the tour's bosses, despite the huge crowds and success of the LIV Adelaide event taking place this week.
LIV's long-term existence still rests in the hands of Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the governor of PIF, which is nearing a $1.5billion (£1.2billion) investment into PGA Tour Enterprises. When LIV Golf launched in 2022, its former chief executive Greg Norman said he had approval to launch the schedule up to 2025 with a $2billion (£1.6billion) commitment from PIF.”

Its all coming together for 2026 in some shape or form with the PIF investing in PGA Tour enterprises and both tours will find their place in the calendar in some way.

 

[Fore Right]

The mood music seems to suggesting that a merger is not going to happen.

It looks more like the PIF is going to invest in PGA Tour Enterprises and continue to run Liv.

This info is from Scott Oneals (Liv CEO) own words on his daughter's podcast.

The PIF having control in both tours will lead to events having all the best players competing against each other in certain events.

 

[Fore Right]

This is way more positive.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1892672113858740624

 

[Mel Smooth]

I doubt you’ll see LIV players at The Players, given they’ll all be in Singapore that week.

That didn’t stop the Foreplay guys, who are part of the golf media that have been driving division, from posting that they could be though….

Choose your golf news sources carefully….

https://twitter.com/x/status/1892673682532622391

 

[jim8flog]

Old news deleted

 

[Dunesman]

An option for the LIV guys is for them not to be paid prize money for PGAT outings. So they have their LIV contracts and prize money. Limited number of spaces reserved for them in PGAT events, so they can get back to playing in worthwhile competitions, have a chance at wins that have value, and earning ranking points from testing themselves against the wider best in the world golfers. Then their return doesnt impinge on the earnings of the PGAT guys, and removes the ill feeling about LIV signees having their LIV cake and eating their PGAT one too. For a period of 5 years or so. Rahm, Bryson, and the other 3 or 4 top rankers get into the Players or the Signatures, the next 10 or so into the next lower tier of tournaments. So allowing a pathway to proper competitive golf for the 15 or so LIV players that are PGAT standard, and healing the wound.

 

[Mel Smooth]

Methinks some people are going to be surprised / disappointed by how this plays out over the next few years

I’m looking forward to seeing hiw it develops, as the game moves onto a more global stage with the introduction of some fantastic events and locations.

 

[AussieKB]

Mel....have you not been reading all these posts, LIV is going to fold......like last year or sooner,
it was guaranteed by so many.

 

[3 jabber]

Guess this is what happens when you try to turn golf into a party game

https://twitter.com/x/status/1893214710972993903

 

[Dunesman]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1893214710972993903

Growing the game was never about the playing of golf. It was a euphemism for the financial earnings of the top players and the operators of the tours.
I suppose, given that LIV has lost a fortune (each tournament loses abot 50 million apparently), what they have really done is shrink 'the game'.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Guess this is what happens when you try to turn golf into a party game

https://twitter.com/x/status/1893214710972993903

Drunk idiots with little care for the course

 

[Mel Smooth]

Guess this is what happens when you try to turn golf into a party game

https://twitter.com/x/status/1893214710972993903

I played at Hoylake a few months after The Open - practice ground looked like The Somme. I guess thats what happens when you try and turn golf into a commercial spectator operation?